Intergenerational practice for a sustainable future: a case study

Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to report on a project working with young and older people looking ahead to a more sustainable future and sharing practical skills.

Design/methodology/approach

The project involved bringing young and older people together in two communities of Pembrokeshire. Three sessions in each community were facilitated in a flexible way to respond to the needs of the participants and were evaluated.

Findings

The project was successful in encouraging the participants to reflect on issues of sustainability. The exchange between the generations was most successful during the craft activities.

Social implications

The success of this project should encourage a widespread uptake of facilitated sessions to enable intergenerational skills exchange with a view to a more sustainable future. Further research into the long‐term impacts of such projects would also prove useful.

Originality/value

This case study shows a successful intergenerational project which could be replicated in other settings in a flexible way requiring very few resources.

Citation

Becker, B. and Saville, J. (2011), "Intergenerational practice for a sustainable future: a case study", Working with Older People, Vol. 15 No. 4, pp. 147-152. https://doi.org/10.1108/13663661111191266